new build, lackluster performance...

i recently built my new computer, spent about 1200 bucks, all my parts were from newegg. that was including a case and such (i bought a nice one, a thermaltake armor series case). here are the specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400@3.0ghz

4gigs OCZ REAPER HPC DDR2-1066 (5-5-5-18 )

Asus P5E mobo

EVGA Superclocked AKIMBO 8800GT (720mhz core, 2000mhz mem)

PC Power and Cooling 610W PSU

Seagate Baracuda SATAII HDD

Thermaltake Armor Series case

i figured this computer should get me very respectable frames in most of todays modern games, even crysis running at decent frames. apparently this is not the case. Running crysis on very high, i get playable, but just barely, frames (im guessing mid to low teens). this is with AA and AF turned off, 16x10 resolution. Running Age of Conan on high settings with AA and AF turned off, in cities i get approximately 30-35 frames, and sometimes it dips lower. with these frames, i cant really see this computer running games adequately a year from now, which is rediculous.

needless to say, i am kind of upset that i spent that kind of money and am getting (IMO) pretty **** frames in games. Did i do something wrong... or is that just how computer gaming is these days? the last computer i built was like 3 years ago, spent like $900 got just about all top of the line parts and had no issues/amazing performance.

seriously, if you guys have suggestions im all ears.

You won't be getting insane FPS with a single 8800gt, sign up for EVGAs step up program (they take your card, and the price you paid for it and sell you a new card for that price off.)

Buy a 9800gx2, or a new 260 (hold off on the 280).

Your system is performing good.

You won't be getting insane FPS with a single 8800gt, sign up for EVGAs step up program (they take your card, and the price you paid for it and sell you a new card for that price off.)

Buy a 9800gx2, or a new 260 (hold off on the 280).

Your system is performing good.

Pokemoncollect1

what kind of performance increase can i expect from going from an 8800GT to a 9800GTX? i dont know if i have the money to spring for a 9800GX2 honestly. maybe if i wait for the new ATI 4870s to land and sell my 8800GT and buy one of those? i dunno... i just feel disappointed in my performance.

[QUOTE="Pokemoncollect1"]

You won't be getting insane FPS with a single 8800gt, sign up for EVGAs step up program (they take your card, and the price you paid for it and sell you a new card for that price off.)

what kind of performance increase can i expect if i went from a single 8800GT to say a 9800GTX? i dont know if i have the money to spring for a 9800GX2, they are hella expensive. or possibly just wait for the new ATI 4870s to come out, and sell my 8800GT and buy one of those?

Buy a 9800gx2, or a new 260 (hold off on the 280).

Your system is performing good.

Roland123_basic

Well depending where you bought your card, you might have to ebay it if it came with a 30 day non refundable return on Newegg (if bought from there). Or you can SLI 2 8800GTs and get better performance than a single 9800GX2 (which is pretty much an sli 8800gt, and more expensive to boot!).

If your Mobo support SLI, buy another 8800gt, it will help with high resolutions.

Only time the 9800GX2 is worth it is if you don't have SLI on your mobo and don't want to spend the money to upgrade. Or you could wait for the 260 to come out (I think June 26th), and that will also work since it comes with some nice features.

my mobo is X38, so no SLI.

i dont understand what you mean by "Well depending where you bought your card, you might have to ebay it if it came with a 30 day non refundable return on Newegg (if bought from there)."

i DID buy the card from Newegg.

my mobo is X38, so no SLI.

i dont understand what you mean by "Well depending where you bought your card, you might have to ebay it if it came with a 30 day non refundable return on Newegg (if bought from there)."

i DID buy the card from Newegg.

Roland123_basic

get two HD4850, that should be the best opt, but wait for more benchmarks, there few out rigth now.

In the benchmarks I've seen a single HD4850 sems to do very simular to the 9800GTX or a little better and a crossfire 4850 would be about the GTX280/260's performance, if the scaling of HD48xx is about the same as the HD38XX series.

my mobo is X38, so no SLI.

i dont understand what you mean by "Well depending where you bought your card, you might have to ebay it if it came with a 30 day non refundable return on Newegg (if bought from there)."

i DID buy the card from Newegg.

Roland123_basic

Can't return the card for a refund.

On Very High, it still won't be playable, but if you decrease it to High, you should get around 30FPS. If you can't manage a playable framerate, decrease some settings to Medium and try again. Once you've "broken-in" your processor and video card after a few weeks, overclock them and you should get a sizable boost in framerates.

EDIT: I looked for a 9800GTX review, but all the sites I found used Medium settings. Because the HD 4850 is apparently around the same as a 9800GTX, I went from this review: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=191096. You'll almost certainly need to overclock to get those sort of numbers, though.

If you just bought your graphics card, you can still return it to Newegg, but you'll only get 85% of your money back due to the restocking fee. If you want to get a HD 4850, you'd have most or all of the cost covered, so this would be the best way to go.

EDIT: I just checked EVGA's site and the cheapest 9800GTX is $350, so you'll be paying way more for the same or less performance verses the HD 4850. Also, being that you have an X38 board, you can always get another card for more performance.

If you just bought your graphics card, you can still return it to Newegg, but you'll only get 85% of your money back due to the restocking fee. If you want to get a HD 4850, you'd have most or all of the cost covered, so this would be the best way to go.kodex1717

I too would say that the 4850 looks like a brilliant choice at this point... I may get one if the actual performance is noticably superior to my 8800GTS.

i figured this computer should get me very respectable frames in most of todays modern games, even crysis running at decent frames. apparently this is not the case. Running crysis on very high, i get playable, but just barely, frames (im guessing mid to low teens). this is with AA and AF turned off, 16x10 resolution. Running Age of Conan on high settings with AA and AF turned off, in cities i get approximately 30-35 frames, and sometimes it dips lower. with these frames, i cant really see this computer running games adequately a year from now, which is rediculous.

Roland123_basic

It seems that the HD 4850 CrossFire doesn't do much for Crysis. That might be a driver issue, though.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/1471/9/page_9_benchmarks_crysis/index.html

If you turn some settings down, you could easily get 30 FPS here.